What Food Can I Bring to USA? Here's What’s (NOT) Allowed
Importing specific food products into the United States is restricted to prevent the spread of diseases and pests. You are required to declare all meat, cheese, fruits, vegetables, and other food items on the customs declaration form filled out prior to landing. Failure to declare these items, or possession of prohibited goods discovered during random inspections, can result in penalties of up to $10,000. So, which food items are you actually permitted to bring into the U.S.?
The regulations outlined below apply to all travelers entering the United States. Food items are subject to inspection in both checked and carry-on luggage. Be aware that food sent to the U.S. by mail is subject to these same strict regulations.
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Prohibited Food Items When Traveling to the USA
❌ Alcoholic Beverages
Travelers under the age of 21 are strictly prohibited from bringing alcohol into the U.S., even if it is intended as a gift.
Furthermore, all travelers, regardless of age, are forbidden from importing absinthe that contains the chemical thujone. Absinthe is legally considered “thujone-free” only if it contains less than 10 mg of thujone per liter. Additionally, the product branding must not imply hallucinogenic, psychotropic, or mind-altering effects. Any bottles violating these specific TTB regulations will be confiscated.
❌ Meat and Meat Products
Salami, ham, sausages, cured meats, schnitzels, and virtually all other meat products are prohibited. This ban extends to fresh, frozen, dried, smoked, and cooked meats. Even canned meat is generally restricted depending on the country of origin and specific disease outbreaks, so it is safest to avoid it entirely.
❌ Milk and Dairy Products
Most raw dairy products, including milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese, are prohibited from import. However, exceptions are made for liquid milk and powdered milk intended for use by infants. Butter, shelf-stable powdered milk, and cheese products that do not require refrigeration are generally permitted.
❌ Fruits and Vegetables
You generally cannot bring fresh fruits and vegetables into the U.S. This includes fresh, frozen, dried, and home-canned produce. However, commercially processed fruits and vegetables are typically allowed if they are heat-treated and hermetically sealed (canned or jarred). Dried goods such as beans, dates, figs, raisins, nuts, and peas are also permitted.
❌ Eggs
The importation of raw eggs and food products containing raw eggs is prohibited. Commercially manufactured foods that contain fully cooked eggs are generally allowed.
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Permitted Food Items When Traveling to the USA
✅ Alcohol
Travelers aged 21 and older may bring one liter of alcohol into the U.S. duty-free. Importing larger quantities is not explicitly prohibited for personal use, but amounts exceeding the one-liter limit will be subject to customs duty and Internal Revenue tax.
✅ Cigarettes, Cigars, and Tobacco
Non-resident travelers may bring up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 2 kilograms of smoking tobacco into the U.S. duty-free.
✅ Tea
Both bagged and loose-leaf tea can be imported without restrictions. Herbal teas may be subject to inspection; they are permitted provided they do not contain coca leaves, khat, or other plants listed on the USDA prohibited substances list. To facilitate clearance, it is helpful if the packaging clearly lists the scientific names of the ingredients.
✅ Mushrooms
Fresh, dried, and processed mushrooms are admissible. The primary requirement is that they must be free of all soil or organic debris.
✅ Coffee
There are no restrictions on importing roasted coffee beans or instant coffee. You may bring any quantity for personal use.
✅ Spices
Most dried spices, including cumin and baking powder, are admissible. However, orange, lemon, and lime leaves and seeds are prohibited. Travelers should also note that while technically permitted under certain conditions, poppy seeds are frequently confiscated due to concerns regarding prohibited contaminants.
✅ Honey
Honey intended for personal use is admissible without restriction.
✅ Dairy Products
Liquid milk and powdered milk intended for infants are permitted in reasonable quantities for several days of use. Butter and shelf-stable dairy products (those not requiring refrigeration) are also allowed.
✅ Flour, Rice, and Pasta
Flour, including wheat, rice, oat, and corn flour, is admissible. White, brown, and basmati rice are allowed provided the hull is removed. Pasta is permitted as long as it does not contain fresh eggs (shelf-stable pasta is fine).
✅ Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Soft drinks, mineral water, and other non-alcoholic beverages generally face no import restrictions. Juices and powdered drinks should be transported in their original commercial packaging with ingredients listed. Customs officers reserve the right to confiscate any product that appears suspicious or lacks proper labeling.
✅ Nuts
Nuts that have been boiled, baked, ground, oven-dried, pureed, roasted, or steamed are permitted. Food items containing nuts are allowed unless they violate other regulations (e.g., containing prohibited meat).
✅ Bakery Products
Bread, pastries, cookies, cakes, and other baked goods are admissible.
✅ Fish and Seafood
Fish, shrimp, and other seafood are permitted for personal use. They can be fresh, smoked, frozen, cooked, dried, or canned. However, strict limits apply to caviar: travelers may bring up to 125 grams of caviar per person. Amounts exceeding this limit will be confiscated. Importing seafood species protected under CITES or U.S. federal law is prohibited.
✅ Sweets, Chocolates, and Snacks
Candy, chocolate, granola bars, and snacks like chips or crackers are generally allowed, provided they do not contain prohibited fillings such as meat or liquid dairy requiring refrigeration.
✅ Cooking and Baking Ingredients
Vegetable oils (olive, canola, sunflower) and condiments like mustard and ketchup are admissible. Dry baking mixes are allowed if they do not contain meat or fresh eggs.
✅ Cheeses
Hard cheeses (e.g., Parmesan, Edam, Cheddar) are admissible if they do not contain meat.
Soft cheeses (e.g., Camembert, Brie, Feta, Mozzarella) are permitted only if they are commercially packaged, made from pasteurized milk, and do not contain liquid whey or brine.
This guide covers the majority of food items most frequently carried by tourists. For a comprehensive and official list of regulations regarding food importation, please consult the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
Discussion (82)
Is it possible to bring marmalade (a preserve made from sugar and oranges) into the US?
@Jim Kelly: Hi Jim, yes, you can bring marmalade into the US. But don’t forget to declare it on the customs form. :)
Hello, I would like to consult about the import of these instant products to the USA – all industrially processed:
1. instant soups – just add water
2. vegetable soups – are those that contain meatballs cooked?
3. instant oatmeal with dried fruit
4. instant pasta with cheese sauce
5. bags of industrially dried fruit – by heat or freeze-drying.
Thank you, Lída.
@Lída: Dobrý den, Lído :)
✅ 1. Instant soups – just add water
Allowed if meat-free and in sealed commercial packaging.
❌ 2. Dry vegetable soups with meatballs
Not allowed if they contain any meat, even dried or cooked.
✅ 3. Instant oatmeal with dried fruit
Permitted if factory-sealed and without fresh ingredients.
✅ 4. Instant pasta with cheese sauce
Allowed if completely meat-free and shelf-stable.
✅ 5. Bags of industrially dried fruit (heat or freeze-dried)
Generally permitted if free from seeds and properly labeled.
Hello, I would like to consult about the import of these items:
Dry shrimp
Fish Floss
Lotus Heart
Dried squid
Dried Longan
Dried red apple
Thank you
@Thanh: Hi Thanh!
For personal baggage, dried shrimp, fish floss, and dried squid are generally admissible if they are commercially packaged, shelf-stable, and properly declared on arrival. Most seafood products are not regulated by APHIS, but CBP will still inspect them. You must ensure they do not contain any protected species, and FDA labeling rules for food products must be followed. :-)
Lotus heart, when intended for use as an herbal-tea ingredient, is typically allowed as long as it is non-propagative, commercially packaged, and declared. It should be clearly labeled for personal consumption and not for planting.
Dried longan and dried red apple are more restricted. Many dried fruits and vegetables are prohibited unless they meet specific entry requirements set by the USDA and APHIS. You should keep them in their original sealed packaging and be prepared for possible inspection. In some cases, only canned or fully processed fruit products are allowed without restrictions.
Always declare all agricultural and wildlife products to CBP, keep them in original packaging with visible ingredients and country of origin, and be aware that the final decision on admissibility is made at the port of entry. If you plan to ship these items to the U.S. or import them for resale, additional FDA requirements may apply, including prior notice and facility registration. :-)
Hi,
Can I take kina (sea urchin) to the US – non-commercial use?
@Helen: Hi Helen,
yes, you can bring kina (sea urchin) into the United States for non-commercial, personal use, provided you carry it with you and declare it on arrival. Seafood for human consumption is generally admissible in personal quantities, and shellfish or fishery products for consumption are exempt from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service clearance and the wildlife declaration form.
hello
iam going to turkey, can i bring with me turkish lahmacun
@Maan: Hello Maane, unfortunately I don’t know that. This website focuses on travel to the USA. :-)
hi my name is Angela and im planning on going to Japan for the first time in summer 2026. What types of souvenirs can i bring with me to the USA?
Canned cake? toys? stationary supplies without any paper cutters or sharp tools? coffee beans or ground coffee? dried goods such as a small bag of rice? thank you for your patience :)
@Angie: Hello Angie!
For a trip to Japan, you can bring many typical souvenirs into the United States as long as you declare all food and agricultural items on arrival and keep quantities clearly for personal use.
Canned cake and other baked goods are generally admissible if they are commercially packaged and contain no meat, and commercially canned or processed foods are typically allowed, but you still must declare them. Toys and ordinary stationery without blades or sharp tools are fine.
Coffee is straightforward: roasted coffee and ground coffee are allowed, and even green coffee beans are permitted when you enter the continental US. Rice is more sensitive because it can harbor stored-grain pests. From Japan, a small retail bag of polished, pest-free rice is usually admissible after inspection, but you must declare it.
If an item you declared turns out not to be admissible, officers will typically just seize it rather than fine you. :-)
Are imported commercially sealed packaged salami slices from Costco for my personal consumption OK to bring into USA from Canada?
THANKS for your reply!
@Lynn Young: Hi Lynn!
Yes – if the salami is a product of Canada or the U.S., in unopened retail packaging, clearly labeled with country of origin, and you declare it at entry. APHIS explicitly allows travelers to bring cooked/cured meats (including pork and beef) from Canada for personal use, with a typical limit of up to 50 lb per traveler, subject to inspection.
Can I bring in the following items from Japan ?
* miso paste, organic
* soy sauce, organic
* red beans (azuki) and white beans organic
* cooking timer with no battery
* alarm clock with no battery
* yogurt maker
* baking fermenter (dough proofing heater for personal use) boxed weight about 21 lbs
Also, Do I need or good idea to attach receipts for kitchen stainless items and all the clothing I have been using in Japan to send to the U.S. ?
I appreciate for your assistance !
@Nina: Hi Nina, Yes. You can usually bring all of these items, but you must declare them and there are a few conditions.
Can I bring unpackaged dried chilis from Mexico to the us on a commercial plane?
@Linda: Hi Linda, yes. You can usually carry dried chilis in your luggage on a commercial flight, but the real issue is US customs when you land, not the airline. All agricultural products, including dried chilis, must be declared on your customs form and shown to CBP, and failing to declare them can lead to seizures and fines even if the food itself would have been allowed.
Can I bring beef OXO cubes to the USA
@Jessie Yarwood: Hey Jessie, I wouldn’t risk it.
The US is extremely strict about beef products from the UK due to BSE (Mad Cow Disease) regulations, so they will almost certainly be confiscated. If you do try to bring them, you must declare them on your customs form. If you don’t declare them and they are found, you face an instant fine of around $300.
It is much safer and easier to just buy alternatives like Knorr or “Better Than Bouillon” at a US supermarket once you arrive.
Can I bring:
– cooked frozen chicken for personal consumption into the US from Canada?
– cooked frozen soup with beef for personal consumption into the US from Canada?
– personally canned Salsa?
@Karen: Hi Karen! Generally, the cooked chicken and beef soup are okay from Canada as long as they’re for your own use. Just keep the packaging if possible to prove the origin. The home-canned salsa is the tricky one. Customs usually wants commercially sealed items to check the ingredints, so they might not let that through. Hope that helps!
Hello,
Do food items have to be declared even if they are all on the permitted list?
Thank you.
@PV: Hi there! Yes, you definitely need to declare everything. Even if it’s on the permitted list, you must let the Customs officer know what you’re carrying. It’s always better to be safe and avoid any unnecessary on-the-spot fines.
Safe travels! :-)
How about a slice or two of cheese pizza intended for personal consumption (in a small pizza box) from Italy to the United States? Thank you for your help!
@Taunya: Hey! Good news, you can definitely bring cheese pizza as long as it has absolutely no meat toppings. Just make sure to declare it on your customs form to avoid any issues. Safe flight!
One more question–traveling from Italy–cured meat–packaged vacuum sealed/labeled (prosciutto)–you said it’s not allowed? The place where we bought it from said it was not a problem, no I’m having 2nd thoughts –do I carry it on, declare it and take my chances? Also can I pack the hard cheeses in my suitcase (provided they are declared as well)
@Taunya Moore: Hi Taunya! To be on the safe side, I’d leave the proscuitto behind. Even vacuum-sealed, US Customs is incredibly strict with Italian meat products and will likely confiscate it. Hard cheeses, however, are usually fine! Just make sure you declare everything. If you declare it and it’s not allowed, they just take it away – but if you don’t declare it and they find it, you’re looking at a hefty fine. Safe travels!
Can I ask how much the duty for herbal liqueur would be? I want to bring some specific bottles as a gift.
@Nicole:
You can bring one liter of alcohol duty-free. For anything above that, you have to pay duty, which is usually a few dollars per bottle. It’s not a huge amount.
Hi, Can we bring mango, lemon or other Indian homemade pickles to US. It contains mustard oil, spices and cut dried raw mangos.
I don’t see it in any list.
thanks
@Chantal: Hi! Happy to help clear this up for your upcoming road trip. Here’s the current situation for bringing food across the land border into the US for personal use.
Sandwiches: Ham is generally fine. Chicken, however, can be tricky. Poultry is frequently subject to sudden temporary restrictions due to avian flu outbreaks, so it’s usually safer to skip the chicken entirely to avoid any border delays.
Veggies: Your celery and carrot sticks are perfectly fine to bring. Just make sure they are clean and completely free of soil.
Dairy: You’re spot on! Canadian butter is allowed. Keeping it in the original packaging to easily prove where it came from is definitely the best way to do it.
Just remember that you still need to declare all food items to the border officer when you arrive, even the allowed ones. Safe travels!
Hi, we will be traveling by car from Canada to the US soon and would like clarification for some items in the above list. We used to be able to bring with us a tray of sandwiches (ground cooked chicken or ham) and celeri and carrot sticks. Has that completely changed? And I read on the USDA site they seem to accept dairy product from Canadian origin (e.g. pound of butter in its original packaging). Thank you for helping me confirm my understanding.
@Anirudh Garg: Hi Anirudh!
Yes, you can usally bring them, but you must declare all food items at customs. Homemade pickles often get inspected, so make sure they are sealed tightly and contain no meat. Also, pack them in your checked luggage to comply with liquid limits.
Safe travels!
Please, I have a question, can I bring tofu and tempeh in my suitcase? (I am vegan) and what about chia seeds? Or in general, how is it with seeds (chia, hemp, sunflower…) and why are they possibly prohibited?
Thanks a lot for the answer!(:
@Jane:
I have to admit I don’t know tofu and tempeh intimately, but given the potential presence of live cultures or restrictions on agricultural products, I would rather say it might be prohibited. Seeds are generally prohibited too to prevent invasive species. However, you can buy all of this in the USA.
A knife in checked luggage is fine, you hand over the suitcase at the airport and pick it up at the airport… anyone can bring a knife that way.
You mentioned that, one can generally bring commercially packaged, shelf-stable canned meats like corned beef and luncheon meat into the U.S., and that they must be labeled and unopened.
My question is, do I still have to declare them?
Thank you.
@Mark: Hi Mark! Yes, you absolutely do.
Even if the canned meat is completely fine and allowed, there is a strict rule that you must declare absolutely all food items when entering the U.S. If you write them on the form, the customs officers will just take a look and let you pass.
However, if you tried to bring them in without declaring, you could face a pretty high fine. So better be safe and declare everything!
Have a great trip!
Can you bring homemade fruit juice in the USA and chickpea salad?
@Nadine: Hi Nadine!
That’s a great question, because US customs rules for bringing food are really strict. The short answer is: it’s better to leave them at home. Fruit juices are only allowed if they are commercially packaged and pasteurized in their original containers – homemade versions unfortunately won’t pass due to pest risks.
As for the chickpea salad, while chickpeas themselves are usually okay when dried, once they are in a salad with fresh vegetables, dressing, or herbs, customs will most likely confiscate it.
If you decide to bring any food anyway, make sure to declare everything on your customs form upon arrival to avoid big fines.
Safe travels! :-)
Can i bring Müsli to the us
@Chris: Hi Chris!
Yes, you can absolutely bring müesli to the US, but there are a few quick rules to keep in mind. You must declare all food items on your customs form when you arrive, otherwise you risk a fine. Plain oats, nuts, and dried fruits are generally perfectly fine.
Just make sure it doesn’t contain any powdered milk or fresh fruit pieces, and keeping it in its original, unopened packaging is always your best bet. Safe travels!
hi im are traveling from philippines to usa can i bring barley powder around 1000g for personal use?
@don: Hi! Yes, you can generally bring commercially packaged barley powder for personal use. The absolute most important rule is that you must declare it on your Customs Declaration form when you arrive. The CBP agriculture specialist at the airport will inspect it and make the final call. If you forget to declare it, you could face a hefty fine. Safe travels on your trip!
And granola bars? They contain oatmeal…
@Jane:
If they are commercially packaged granola bars, it should be fine. Just don’t bring loose oatmeal in a bag.
Can I bring (home) dried bamboo shoots and/or papaya from Thailand into the US?
@karen owen: Hi Karen!
The dried bamboo shoots should be completely fine as long as they are totally dried and clean, but dried papaya from Thailand is usually a no-go, as most dried fruits from that region face strict restrictions due to pest risks.
No matter what you pack, though, the absolute golden rule is to declare everything to Customs upon arrival. If you declare it and the officer decides it’s not allowed, they will just take it away with no penalty. But if you don’t declare it and they find it, you could face a hefty fine.
Safe travels!
hi, travelling from UK to USA, am i allowed to bring sealed bags of granola which contain chocolate flakes and sealed granola bars which contain fruits pieces ?
@karen owen: Hi there! Yes, you are absolutely fine to bring those. Commercially packaged and sealed baked goods, cereals, chocolate, and dried fruit pieces are generally allowed into the US for personal use.
The most important thing is that you must declare that you are carrying food on your customs form or when talking to the officer. As long as you declare it, the worst that can happen is they take a look and say no (though these items are standard and should pass just fine). If you don’t declare it and they find it, you can face hefty fines.
Safe travels and enjoy your trip!